In the words of former New York Mayor Ed Koch, How am I doing?

As of this week, I’ve been editor of Inside Tucson Business for four years. And you thought I wouldn’t make it.

Well, actually, as I write this I haven’t quite finished my employee evaluation from my boss, publisher Tom Lee.

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Be that as it may, I really do want to know what readers think of what we’re doing. 

One way to do that is to drop me an e-mail. While I’ve always interested in suggestions for individual profiles and stories we might do, I most want find out what readers think of the general direction of Inside Tucson Business. Are there regular features you think are a waste of time and don’t belong here? Is there something you think we’re routinely missing? What subjects should we be focusing on? Is real estate still the big economic driver? There’s no question the economy is at the center of all kinds of news coverage but what makes the most sense for a Tucson publication?

A few days ago I was meeting with the vice president of a local company who teased me about being a curmudgeon. I hope I’m not. Am I?

I think it’s important for Inside Tucson Business to be a reflection of the business community it serves. I don’t think it needs to be stiff and boring. In fact, I’d like to see be positive and offer humor. That’s been kind of difficult of late. If you’ve got ideas that would help us go that direction, please pass them along.

Besides the weekly printed publication, we also have our website — www.azbiz.com. We’re working on growing it but I suspect it will always be a work in progress.

To that point, I’d like you to consider participating in an online survey now underway on the website. Make sure you have your pop-up blockers turned off and at least 20 minutes to do the survey. For the trouble, you’ll be entered to win a $500 gas card. At the rate gas prices are coming down, that might actually buy you enough gas to get somewhere.

The online survey will be up until about the end of December. Completing it will help us determine some future direction.

In the meantime, we are moving forward. This week, for example you’ll notice the editorial pages have changed slightly in the printed version of Inside Tucson Business and on page 22 you’ll see the results of our Business Pulse. It’s a graphic presentation of the results of a weekly online poll on our website. This week’s question was a follow-up to my column last week suggesting we split up the Tucson Unified School District into smaller districts as a way to fix it. It looks as if most people agreed with the idea. Finally, I can’t let Thanksgiving go by without also saying thank you. Like many other businesses, Inside Tucson Business has faced challenges this year. Those of you who pay money to subscribe are a sought-after audience. Advertisers want to reach you. So thank you to you the readers of Inside Tucson Business and to you the advertisers in Inside Tucson Business. I’m all ears for your ideas.

E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.com. Contact David Hatfield at dhatfield@azbiz.com or (520) 295-4237.